To the whole story. I'm anderson cooper. We are less than seven months away from the next presidential election. But even now, four years after joe biden won, there are a number of down from supporters who dispute those results. And that's not all they dispute. The january 6 attack was an insurrection dispute. The idea of separation of church and state in america. Some even dispute that the last super bowl was played honestly, and they blamed taylor swift for rigging the outcome over the next hour, cnn's donie o'sullivan dives and those who are trying to battle them. [music playing] donnie o'sullivan: this event today is at a church but [laughs] not entirely clear what kind of church it really is. One of the guest speakers there today is a man by the name of derrick evans. He spent three months in prison for his role in the attack on the us capitol, and now he's running for congress. [rain pattering] (singing) for the land of the free and the home of the brave [applause] supporter: that was excellent. Thank you so very much. Thank you. We are honored to have with us today a gentleman that has extremely interesting stories. Derek evans is a j6 survivor, and he's running for congress as well. So let's give him a warm welcome. [applause] derrick evans: awesome. Thank you guys for coming out here today. I really appreciate it. I spent eight days in solitary confinement because i refused the covid vaccine while they were holding me hostage. [applause] i'm calling for a prisoner exchange. We need to release the january 6 political prisoners and lock up the criminals who stole the election to begin with. [applause] donnie o'sullivan: national media headlines about you is, january 6 insurrectionist now he's running for congress. What do you want people to know about you beyond that big headline? derrick evans: well, first of all, i'm husband and a father. I've got four beautiful children. I love my family very much. I love my community. I love my country. And i think it's despicable that the media and particularly cnn has helped paint this false narrative of insurrection. Donnie o'sullivan: how would you characterize what happened on january 6? derrick evans: january 6 was the most patriotic day of my life. Trump! whoo! insurrectionist: we're not putting up with this tyrannical rule. [shouting] donnie o'sullivan: [screaming] help! i did nothing wrong that day. We have natural godgiven rights in this country. I know a lot of people out there, a lot of your viewers, who are probably a lot of good people, but they believe that our rights come from the government. That's simply not true. Our rights come from god. Calm down, guys. Come down in the back. I'm heard reminding people to be peaceful and nonviolent and nondestructive. We're in! we're in! insurrectionist: usa! derrick evans: derrick evans is in the capitol. No vandalizing property. I did more to control the crowd than the police did that day, and i'm the one that goes to prison. Donnie o'sullivan: so why were you sent to prison? derrick evans: because this is a political charges right now. I'm a political prisoner. All these people in prison now are political prisoners. Donnie o'sullivan: you did decide to plead guilty. Derrick evans: yeah. Donnie o'sullivan: was that just out of practicality? derrick evans: well, i mean, when you're facing 24 years in prison, what options do you really have? i was ready to move on with my life. And the constitution was written for one reason and one reason only. It was written to prevent the government from infringing on our natural godgiven rights. What i was doing that day was not only protected by the constitution was protected by those natural godgiven rights of free speech. Donnie o'sullivan: but also, of course, there's a separation between church and state. Derrick evans: no there's not. There's no separation of church and state. That's another lie that's been portrayed by the left. There's no separation of church and state. There's not one, ever. Donnie o'sullivan: invoking religion to promote our politics and justify our actions is nothing new. Indeed before he was running for congress, derrick made a name for himself harassing women outside abortion clinics. [interposing voices] derrick evans: i told you we're growing in numbers, i told you we're growing in numbers! better get used to it donnie o'sullivan: but what was happening here marjorie talor greene: i've got two pronouns, trump won! donnie o'sullivan: in this church, it felt different. Marjorie talor greene: all right. Well, i guess we got the fake news here, you might as well get the real news because [cheering] donnie o'sullivan: here conspiracy theories reign supreme. Ann vandersteel: seven, eight years. And i have a very high level source who contacted me the other day and said, ann, you need to get this out because this is the playbook. You look at oklahoma. You look at 911, and you realize the reason planes flew into buildings, and bombs have gone off in certain places is because they're destroying evidence. Donnie o'sullivan: you've been labeled an extremist. Derrick evans: falsely, yeah. Donnie o'sullivan: you would say falsely? derrick evans: yeah. The stuff you posted on christmas day. Derrick evans: what about it? donnie o'sullivan: the democrats being lynched derrick evans: ok. Donnie o'sullivan: you probably shouldn't have done that, should you? derrick evans: i want to see fauci in handcuffs. I want to see mayorkas in handcuffs. I want to see them standing right now in front of a jury shackled. Donnie o'sullivan: you want to see them hung? derrick evans: i want to see them in front of a jury shackled in a military tribunal. And whatever the jury decides, we accept that outcome. Keep in mind that this is spiritual warfare. This is a battle of good versus evil right now. Marjorie talor greene: you're the deplorables, the secondclass citizens that's supposed to not have freedom of speech. Ann vandersteel: the dod, by the way, is behind the development of the covid shots, behind the development of this horrific killing machine. Reverend: everybody have a candle? all right, welcome. We had a good day, huh? donnie o'sullivan: later that evening, some of the congregation gathered nearby at a sister church. Siri: this is a free call from jeremy brown (on phone): jeremy. Siri: an incarcerated individual at citrus county florida. Jeremy brown (on phone): for the last 826 days i have served as a political prisoner of war in my own country. Donnie o'sullivan: jeremy brown was a member of the oath keepers militia and was seen outside the capitol on january 6. He called into the church and began preaching conspiracy theories that trump supporters weren't really responsible for the attack. Jeremy brown (on phone): january 6, 2021 when the clandestine compartmentalized unconventional warfare operation planned, coordinated, and executed by compromised elements within the department of defense intelligence community and federal law enforcement. Donnie o'sullivan: wow, this is gorgeous. How are you? rachel powell: good donnie o'sullivan: nice to meet you. Rachel powell: you too. Good morning. Donnie o'sullivan: thanks so much for having us. Rachel powell: yep. My name is rachel powell. And i've had eight kids, so i've been busy. And i have my seventh grandchild coming up to be born this year. Donnie o'sullivan: this is your last weekend before you go in to prison for the next four or five years. How have you been spending the weekend? rachel powell: i know it's not a funeral procession, but it reminds me of that my friends, my family they've been coming in and it's just been really busy, which is good because when it gets quiet for a minute that's when the emotions set in. Donnie o'sullivan: do you remember where you were when you heard that biden had won the election? rachel powell: i do. I was at my house, and i got a phone call saying that biden won. And i was like, what? donnie o'sullivan: you couldn't believe it? rachel powell: no, absolutely. And people around me couldn't believe it either. Donnie o'sullivan: you still can't believe it. Rachel powell: i still can't believe it. Donnie o'sullivan: why did you decide to go to dc on january 6? rachel powell: well, how often does a president ask you to come to a rally? doesn't happen. Donnie o'sullivan: at some point this goes from peaceful protest to you having an ice ax in your hand. Rachel powell: like, magically. Donnie o'sullivan: did somebody give you the ice axe? rachel powell: yeah. Donnie o'sullivan: who? rachel powell: i don't know. Donnie o'sullivan: you don't remember. [noise] you'd admit this is a bad look, obviously. Rachel powell: oh, totally. Donnie o'sullivan: [chuckles] yeah. Rachel powell: you know how dumb i feel when i look at this picture. Like, oh, my goodness. Like [sighs] [crack] [shouting] donnie o'sullivan: you had an axe in your hand. You broke a window. You were shouting over a bullhorn to tell people to take the building. [clanking] rachel powell: yep. Donnie o'sullivan: why should people believe that you weren't trying to overturn the election and do something illegal and commit insurrection? rachel powell: it's ridiculous. If we wanted if we went there with a plan to take that building with as many people as were there, and we were coordinated, we'd have been in there in 30 seconds. Donnie o'sullivan: have you ever had a moment where you're like, maybe i'm wrong. Maybe biden actually won the election. Maybe i'm the conspiracy theorist. Rachel powell: no. Not at all. Nope. Donnie o'sullivan: so in a few days, you're going to be reporting to federal prison. Rachel powell: right donnie o'sullivan: how have you talked about that to your children? rachel powell: yeah. I'm sorry, it's like my last weekend before i go in. But like, i love my children so much. And so it's like the last thing that they can take from me, and that'll be the hard part. And i don't deserve this. And my kids don't deserve it. Like, have we not been through enough? like it's the last thing that we have to lose is each other. [sniffles] donnie o'sullivan: it had been just three years since the capitol attack. A day that costs lives. [shouting] insurrectionist: let's go! donnie o'sullivan: and ruined lives. [shouting] but the truth of what happened that day has been so twisted reporter: lies about january 6, which have been relentless, almost like it was a coordinated operation. Donnie o'sullivan: so warped. Alex jones: 20 confirmed incidents that dozens of feds, fbi agents, and state operatives who infiltrated the trump crowds on january 6 the us capitol. We have total on top of all the other proof more proof. Donnie o'sullivan: that those who took part in the attack are being lauded in churches. Derrick evans: we'll talk about all the corruption that happened surrounding january 6, the feds direction because we know that the federal government was involved. Donnie o'sullivan: and the man who incited it all he's still the hero. Rachel powell: so this hat says, rachel we love you, trump. Donnie o'sullivan: are you hoping trump will pardon you? rachel powell: i know he'll pardon me. That's not a hope. I know that trump will pardon me. Donnie o'sullivan: rachel, still had faith in trump, even facing the election lies that were sending her to prison. But how wide are these lies among the wider trump base? i went to vegas to find out. Do i put it all on red or all on black tonight? supporter: put it on 21. Donnie o'sullivan: 21? supporter: 21. Donnie o'sullivan: ok. Supporter: yeah. [audio logo] supporter: because i'm the only person in history to win cars in both the wheel of fortune and the price is right. Donnie o'sullivan: i came over to you because i saw your shirt. Supporter: uhhuh donnie o'sullivan: that's trump being arraigned. Supporter: yeah. Supporter: we should all be united to stand with this man. Supporter: i was better off four years ago. Donnie o'sullivan: i believe trump is the only hope right now on the earth. Donnie o'sullivan: what happens if trump loses? supporter: we're in a whole lot of trouble. Supporter: all right! donnie o'sullivan: who are you guys with? deejon lackey: i feel like the mainstream media makes me feel like my views are i'm wrong for having my views. I was a lifelong democrat until 2019. Donnie o'sullivan: until 2019? deejon lackey: yes. Donnie o'sullivan: what changed? deejon lackey: donald trump. Joe black: who are you guys with? donnie o'sullivan: cnn. Joe black: that's what we thought. Donnie o'sullivan: yeah. Joe black: are you guys going to cover it accurately? donnie o'sullivan: you don't think it's accurate? joe black: not really. I think you guys do soundbites. Donnie o'sullivan: where do you get most of your news and information now? joe black: i go to multiple different sources like telegram. I try to stay off the main sites like facebook and stuff like that. It's all got algorithms and stuff like that are designed to hide your post. Donnie o'sullivan: you get fact checked on facebook? joe black: well, but fact checked by who? some guy that's 30 years old living in his mom's basement. Julianne: i would love to speak to you. Donnie o'sullivan: all right. Julianne: you don't have to put it on the camera if you don't want to. Donnie o'sullivan: sure. We might as well put it on camera. Julianne: the job of the journalist is to ask the questions, allow the person to speak, and just report the facts. What was spoken. Would you like for me to pull up the definition of journalist? donnie o'sullivan: that's ok, but thank you, julianne. Julianne: ok. Donnie o'sullivan: i met julianne, a diehard trump supporter from texas who was in vegas for a gun show. Julianne: i have a godgiven right to speak my own truth. Donnie o'sullivan: she still believes the 2020 election was stolen. But there are facts, right? julianne: the facts have shown that the election was stolen. Whether you're willing to look at that and accept that and really show what's going on, that's your issue not ours. We want the godgiven freedom that our constitution and our bill of rights is based on. Donnie o'sullivan: godgiven constitutional rights. Julianne: yes. Donnie o'sullivan: there are two different things, right? julianne: no, sir. They're not. Read, read the constitution. Read it out loud to yourself so that you hear what the words of the constitution. Say. Donnie o'sullivan: god isn't mentioned in the constitution. Julianne: sir! you had to learn the constitution to become a us citizen. Donnie o'sullivan: no, i didn't. Julianne: you didn't? donnie o'sullivan: no. Julianne: you did not have to learn the constitution or the bill of rights to become a us citizen? donnie o'sullivan: i was born a us citizen. My mom was american. But this isn't about me. Julianne: you just made a statement. You tried to make what you're considering as a factual statement that god is not talked about. Donnie o'sullivan: in the constitution and bill of rights. Julianne: ok. Ok. Hold on. Donnie o'sullivan: i can pull it up on my phone too if we can do it. Julianne: ok, sure. Go ahead. I'm trying to i might have just gotten something wrong, which they'll probably use that to donnie o'sullivan: ok, you have the what you have there? julianne: let me say this. Donnie o'sullivan: all right julianne: and this is probably why i get it. In the united states, the federal constitution does not make a reference to god as such. Although, it uses the formula the year of our lord, which is capitalized in article 7. There's only one lord capitalized lord. So there is a reference to god in our constitution and in our bill of rights. In article 7, go read it. Donnie o'sullivan: one reference that states the date. Julianne: one reference is enough. It refers to the year of the lord, capital lord. There's only one lord. Donnie o'sullivan: religion has always played a role in american politics. Pope pius xii said, into the hands of america, god has placed and afflicted mankind. (singing) amazing grace how sweet the sound donnie o'sullivan: but what's happening now is different. Chrisitan nationalist: jesus christ, we invoke your name. Chrisitan nationalist: amen. I'm to the place right now if you vote democrat, i don't even want you around this church. You can get out. You can get out you, demon. You can get out you, baby butchering, election thief. You cannot be a christian and vote democrat in this nation. Chrisitan nationalist: we are going to have one nation under god, and one religion under god. Chrisitan nationalist: and i'm tired of this separation of church and state junk. Donnie o'sullivan: it has a name. It's called christian nationalism. Julianne: i say it proudly. We should be christian nationalists. Dennis jacobsen: january 6, crosses everywhere. Huge poster of a white jesus with a make america great again red hat on. As a christian, it just grabbed my guts and got me furious. [shouting] chrisitan nationalist: we're going to reclaim america for christ, retake america for christians. Chrisitan nationalist: so we hold up president trump before the creator of the universe. Chrisitan nationalist: this is an explicitly christian country. Chrisitan nationalist: the bible says those that truly follow jesus christ take it by force. Donnie o'sullivan: this perversion of patriotism and fate has pastors across the country worried that their flocks are being led astray. Pastor: i see in american christian nationalism toxic anxiety and rage. And i see it tearing families apart pastor: christian nationalism is not christian at all. Pastor: i started getting called names by people that i loved and had known for over a decade. I was called a fascist a communist and that i had a luciferian spirit of fear. [audio logo] chrisitan nationalist: there is a demonic hedge of protection around joe biden. If this nation is going to succeed, they better put christians into office. You vote for the person who holds closest to a biblical worldview value. Donnie o'sullivan: they preach christian nationalism, and they pray for trump. But this pastor says they are leading their flocks in a dangerous direction. Caleb campbell: and so father, we give you this time. As we think about how we manage our common life together, as we think about government and politics. Pastor: our concern today is political extremism on the right side of american politics. Pastor: so that's what we have tried to do this event today is organized in a response to christian nationalism. Caleb campbell: we've recognized that there's a deficiency in training pastors how to actually engage scripture, and then apply that into the political life. And so it is an answer to what we saw as an aberration from the teachings of jesus, which is american christian nationalism. Donnie o'sullivan: pastor caleb campbell knows a lot about extremism. He used to be a neonazi skinhead who played the drums. Caleb campbell: when i was a teenager, i fell in with a group of neonazi skinheads and did that. After high school, we had a woman from the church was dialing drummers and called me and said, can you come play at the church? donnie o'sullivan: he began playing here at the desert springs bible church 23 years later he's still here. So it's in this room where you had your awakening? caleb campbell: yeah and our tradition we call it like a conversion experience. And i was baptized in this room. It's been quite a ride i definitely didn't expect to be a pastor, much less a pastor in a church like this. Donnie o'sullivan: do you know how many times god is mentioned in this, in the constitution. Caleb campbell: zero. Donnie o'sullivan: yeah, it gets mentioned once, i think, our lord in terms of in the year of our lord. Caleb campbell: evangelical christians of which i am one. I'm a theological evangelical they are generally operating under the assumption that the christian god is all over. The declaration of independence, t